Under the Banner of Heaven

Having lived in Utah for several years, I went into this knowing a fair amount about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: its history, its leaders, its tangled (to put it mildly) relationship with polygamy, and its equally tangled dealings with the federal government. And still, Jon Krakauer's true-crime masterwork was (no pun intended) a revelation. It gripped me from its very first page.

In the best true-crime books, the crime itself is often indicative of a much deeper underworld that has violently broken through our norms, revealing a portal that the author then bravely descends into. Krakauer’s voyage into the fanatical religious roots beneath a horrific double murder had me riveted.

His razor-sharp prose is so clear and haunting, and I was spellbound as he moved effortlessly between the past and present narratives. This book starkly reminded me of how important it is for America to always confront the demons of its past with open eyes, unglazed by anything but the facts, and… show more.

The origin of a twentieth century crime is traced to the violent history of the Latter Day Saints.

With Mormons, the line between faith and fanaticism, between belief and delusion, is blurred.

While Preparation maintained their anti-polygamy stance, they struggled with their leader’s use of prophecy and revelation similar to the main group of Mormons.

This book blends a contemporary murder mystery in Utah with the history of Joseph Smith and the Mormon church. John Krakauer is an engaging storyteller, and his parallel narrative illustrates the unbreakable bond between past and present. Before I read this book, I knew almost nothing about the unusual origins of the Mormon church, a popular religion founded in the United States. Under the Banner of Heaven is a page-turner that educates as it entertains.